Wire tightener



July 13, 19 37. H, 5, SMITH ET L 2,087,125

WIRE TIGHTENE'R Filed April 5, 1936 7W HENRYGSMITH I 1 CBMACDONALD INVENTORS m ATTORNEY Patented July 13, 1937 V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WIRE TIGHTENER Henry G. Smith, Cuyahoga Falls, and Clyde B. Macdonald, Akron, Ohio Application April 3, 1936, Serial No. 72,576

12 Claims. (01. 140106) a I This invention relates to improvements in de- Vices for crimping wires and other similar elements and while intended for use generally wherever it may be advantageously employed, the invention is particularly adapted for use in a tool for tightening fencing wires.

Objects of the invention are to provide a wire tightener of simple, durable construction which can be manufactured at a low cost; which may be conveniently used to quickly tighten a wire and which will be very efiicient in use.

Other objects are to provide a tightening device which will shorten a wire by crimping without forming sharp bends whereby the wire may be subjected to great longitudinal stress without straightening the crimped portion and may be crimped without cracking, breaking, elongating or otherwise affecting its strength or durability. Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing in which there is shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention, it being understood that the invention is not confined to the particular adaptation illustrated and that changes and modifications may be made which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal view of a crimping device constructed in accordance with this invention,

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the handle portion as it is swung to an open position for receiving a wire preparatory to crimping the same, a portion of the handles being removed to conserve space.

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the handle portions swung to an open position, Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken as indicated by the lines 4-4 of Figure 1.

Proceeding now to a detailed descriptionof the invention with reference to the illustrated adaptation thereof disclosed in the drawing, the numeral 4 denotes a cross head formed of a flat piece of steel or other suitable material.

The numeral 5 denotes a handle member which is preferably formed of a fiat piece of steel and which is hingedly secured to the cross head 4 by means of a bolt 1. The bolt 1 extends through a suitable bore 25 located adjacent the upper corner of the handle 5 and which is secured in a bore 6 formed in the cross head 4 at a point adjacent the upper edge thereof and spaced inwardly from oneend thereof. A like handle member 26 is likewise secured to the cross head 4 by means Of the bore 21 at a point adjacent the upper outer corner thereof. A bolt 8 is secured in a bore 28 which is formed in the cross member 4 as shown in the drawing. The inwardly presented edges of the handle members 5 and 6 are straight and the cross head 4 is provided adjacent the lower edge thereof with stops which may be in the form of the pins 9 and IB set to limit the inward movement of the handle members 5 and 6.

The numeral ll denotes a relatively large stud which is positioned adjacent one end of the cross head 4 in close, spaced relation to the lower corner thereof, and which projects at a right angle therefrom. The handle member 5 is provided with a relatively wide head which projects laterally outward from the shank portion thereof.

The shank of the handle member 5 is provided on the outward lateral side thereof with a notch l3 which is adapted to receive one side of the stud ll, when the handle member 5 is swung to an outward position as shown in Figure 2.

As shown in the drawing the handle member 6 is of exactly the same shape as the handle member 5 but is oppositely positioned, with the projecting portion of the head presented laterally outward.

The shank of the handle member 6 is In the particular adaptation of the invention shown in the drawing, the member 5 is provided with two studs I6 and H which project from the forward face thereof in parallel relation to the studs II and, Hi.

The studs l6 and I! are positioned in spaced relation on the enlarged portion of the handle member 5 and are disposed in a straight line drawn between the studs II and I5.

The stud i6 is positioned adjacent the outer lateral edge of said enlarged portion of the handle member 5 and the head portion is provided adjacent the inner lateral edge thereof with a stud H.

The stud H is of approximately the same length as the stud l I and the stud I6 is relatively longer and is of approximately the same length as the stud 15.

The enlarged portion of the handle member 6 is likewise provided with studs I8 and I9 which project from the forward face thereof in parallel relation to the studs I2 and I5. When the handles 29, 2I are in a closed position as shown in Figure 1 the studs I9 and I9 are disposed along a straight line extending between the studs I5 and I2. The stud I8 is positioned adjacent the inner lateral edge of the handle member 6 and corresponds in length to the studs II and I2. The stud I9 is positioned adjacent the outer edge of the enlarged portion of the handle member 6 and is relatively longer than the stud I8, it being preferably formed of the same length as the studs I5 and I6.

The handle member 5 may be provided with suitable handles 20 and the handle member 6 with the handle 2 I. The handles 29 and 2| may be formed of wood or any suitable material and may be secured to the handles" 5 and 6 by means of the screws 22.

In use, the handles 29 and 2| are swung toan' outward position as shown in Figure 2. In this position the long studs I5, I6 and I9 are positioned along a straight line running parallel to and adjacent the upper edge of the cross head 4, while the shorter studs II, II, I8 or I2 are disposed in a straight line running parallel to and adjacent the lower edge of the cross head 4. The said studs are thus positioned in parallel rows spaced apart a suflicient distance to permit a straight wire or other element to be positioned between the rows of studs as shown in Figure 2. As the studs I5, I6 and I9 are relatively longer than the studs I I, IT, IS and I2 the operator may quickly and conveniently position the studs I5, I6 and I9 on one side of a wire; with the studs II, II, I8 and I2 positioned on the other side thereof whereupon the handles 29 and 2I are operated to the position shown in Figure 3 which moves the studs I6 and I9 downwardly and moves the studs II and I8 upwardly, thus crimping the wire as shown in Figure 3. As the studs I5, I6, II, I8 and I9 are cylindrical and as pressure is first exerted by the studs I! and I8 the wire is moved inwardly and crimped without elongation.

In the particular adaptation of the invention shown, the upwardly presented edges of the studs II and I2 are flattened to reduce the angle of bend at this point and permit the wire 23 to move inwardly from both ends of the device.

In using the device herein described for tightening fence wires as many crimps may be formed in a wire as is necessary to properly tighten the same. It will thus be seen that we have provided simple, eiiicient means which may be quickly and conveniently used to take up slack in a wire or similar element and which will form a crimp in a wire which will not injure the wire and which will remain in the wire even when it is subjected to great longitudinal stress.

Having thus illustrated our invention and described the same in detail, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:--

1. In a device of the character described, a cross head having three studs projecting at a right angle from the forward face thereof; two handle members hingedly connected to said cross head at spaced points adjacent the upper edge thereof; two studs projecting from each handle member in parallel relation to the first named studs; said handle members adapted when swung outwardly to position said studs in two spaced rows adapted to receive wire therebetween and adapted when swung inwardly to aline said studs in a single row to crimp said wire.

2. In a device of the character described. a cross head; spaced parallel studs projecting from one side thereof; handle members hingedly connected to said side of said cross head for movement in a plane disposed longitudinally thereof; similar studs projecting from each handle member, said studs arranged on said handle members so that a wire may be positioned between certain of said studs and the handles operated tocrimp the wire.

3. In a device of the character described, a head, studs projecting from one side thereof, a handle member hingedly secured thereto for limited movement in a plane disposed longitudinally of said side, studs on said member; said studs being arranged in two parallel rows when the members are swung to one position whereby a wire may be received between the rows and arranged to crimp the wire when the member is swung to an operative position.

4. In a device of the character described, a head; spaced studs projecting from the one side thereof, members hingedly secured to said head for limited swinging movement between said studs, a handle on each member, tw'o projections on each member, said projections spaced apart to provide a wire receiving space therebetween, said projections and studs being arranged in two parallel rows when the members are moved to an open position whereby a wire may be received between the rows, and arranged to crimp said wire when the handles are swung to an operative position.

5. In a device of the character described, a head, a handle member hingedly secured thereto for limited swinging movement in the plane of one side of said head; spaced lugs on said head, spaced lugs on said member; said lugs arranged, when the member is swung to one position toreceive a wire between the lugs on the head and between the lugs on the member and means to swing said member and move said lugs into forced contact with said wire.

6. In a device of the character described, a fiat, elongated head, two members hingedly secured thereto at spaced points for turning movement on, one face thereof, said members provided with handles which project beyond one edge of said head; lugs projecting from said face, one of said lugs positioned between said members, the other lugs being relatively shorter with one of said lugs positioned outwardly from each of said members; a long and a short lug on each member, said lugs arranged when the handles are swung to an open position to form two spaced rows adapted to receive a wire therebetween with the short lugs on both the head and the members positioned in one row and the longer lugs in the other row and. arranged when said handles are operated to rotate said members to move said lugs in staggered relation against said wire substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

'7. A wire-tightening device comprising a pair of plates pivotally connected for relative angular movement, handles extending from said plates to form a portable, manually operable tool for tightening slack wires, a pair of studs upstanding from one plate and at least one stud upstanding from the other, said studs being so positioned that with the plates in one position they may be moved toward a wire so that at least two of said studs will lie on one side thereof and the other will lie on the other side whereby, on relative movement of the plates, the studs form a kink 75 in the wire between extended portions thereof.

8. A wire tightener comprising a pair of plates each hinged on an axis perpendicular thereto, handles extending from said plates to form a portable, manually operable tool for tightening slack wires, 2. pair of projections extending laterally of one plate adapted to engage a wire at points spaced therealong, at least one projection extending laterally of the other plate in the same direction as the first-mentioned projections, said one projection being adapted on movement of one plate relative to the other, to form a kink in the wire between the first-mentioned projections.

9. A wire tightener comprising a pair of plates each hinged about an axis perpendicular there to, handles extending from said plates to form a portable, manually operable tool for tightening slack wires, wire engaging means extending substantially perpendicularly from both plates in the same direction, whereby on angular movement of one plate relative to the other, said means form a kink in a wire extending therebetween.

10. A wire tightening device comprising a head, twomembers secured thereto for swinging movement in the same plane, handles extending from said members to form a portable, manually operable tool for tightening slack wires, two studs on each member, said studs being adapted when the members are swung to one position to receive a wire between the studs on each member and adapted to crimp the wire when the members are swung to an operative position.

11. In a wire tightener, a head, a plurality of members hingedly secured thereto for swinging movement thereon, handles extending from said members to form a portable, manually operable tool for tightening slack wires, spaced studs on each member, the studs on each member being adapted to receive a wire therebetween whereby a relative forced movement of the members will crimp the wire.

12. In a wire tightener, a head, a member hingedly secured thereto for rotary movement thereon, handles on said head and member to form a portable, manually operable tool for tightening slack Wires, two studs on said member, said studs being positioned in spaced relationed and in spaced relation to the center of rotation with one stud positioned a greater distance from the center of rotation than the other and at least one stud projecting from said head at a point adjacent said member.

HENRY G. SMITH. CLYDE B. MACDONALD. 

